San Diego County agriculture officials are asking Costco shoppers to check Desert Willow plants purchased between June 24 and July 3, 2026, after the plants were linked to two invasive agricultural pests.

The County News Center reported that affected plants came from a Texas nursery and were distributed to Costco warehouses across California, including seven locations in San Diego County. The pests are the Broad-headed Sharpshooter and the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, insects that can spread Pierce's disease and other plant diseases.

County officials said the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter is already present in California, while the Broad-headed Sharpshooter is not currently established in the state. Officials said preventing the pests from spreading is important for vineyards, orchards, nurseries, landscapes and home gardens.

For Santee residents, the key instruction is not to move the plant around town or place it in green waste. If the plant has not been planted, the county says to double-bag it, seal both bags and place it in regular household trash. If it has already been planted, residents should leave it in place and contact county officials so inspectors can check it.

The county said about 200 plants sold in San Diego County were still unaccounted for as of its notice. Anyone who bought a Desert Willow plant from Costco during the affected dates can contact the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at 760-752-4700 or sdcawm@sdcounty.ca.gov.